You’re stronger than you think

There’s something nobody tells you about resilience. It doesn’t always feel powerful.

Sometimes it feels like dragging yourself through the day when your legs feel heavy. Sometimes it looks like holding it together in public and crying on the kitchen floor the second you get home. Sometimes, it’s just putting one foot in front of the other without knowing exactly where you’re heading.

We often romanticise strength as something bold and fierce. Something that roars. But the truth is, some of the strongest people I know are quietly exhausted. They’re still showing up, still doing their best, still caring, even when no one’s clapping.

On the podcast, 13 Reasons To Try, I had a conversation that stopped me in my tracks. It reminded me of just how much pressure we carry in silence. And how often that pressure is masked with a smile, a uniform, a job title, or a sense of duty so strong we forget we’re human too.

We talked about burnout, the kind that creeps in so slowly you don’t notice it until your body starts screaming at you. We talked about being part of a system that tells you to keep going, even when everything in you is asking you to stop. And we talked about what it means to finally listen to that voice.

The one that says, “I’m not okay.”
The one that says, “This isn’t working anymore.”
The one that says, “I need something different.”

It’s hard to admit those things. Especially when you’re the one people rely on. Especially when you’ve spent years being “the strong one.” Especially when you’re proud of the work you’ve done and terrified of what comes next.

But here’s the truth: your strength is not measured by how much you can endure. It’s measured by how bravely you respond when things get heavy. It’s found in the moment you choose to soften instead of soldier on. It’s there when you ask for help. When you take a break. When you choose yourself, even if just for a moment.

We’re allowed to evolve. We’re allowed to change our minds. We’re allowed to want more ease, more support, more joy. There is nothing weak about wanting a life that doesn’t burn you out.

And if you’re in a season right now where everything feels like too much. If you’re questioning who you are without the thing you’ve always done, if you're waking up and wondering if there’s something more out there for you. Let this be your reminder: You’re not behind. You’re not broken. And you’re definitely not alone.

You are stronger than you think.

And you always have been.

Listen to the full episode of 13 Reasons to Try from wherever you get your podcasts and start rewriting your script today.